Charging/discharging apparatus and method, power supplying apparatus and method, power supplying system and method, program storing medium, and program

ABSTRACT

In the present invention, a battery pack type discriminating or deciding concave portion ( 131 ) is formed at a position corresponding to a battery pack type deciding switch ( 214 ) of an SQ battery pack ( 1 ) and when the SQ battery pack ( 1 ) is set, the battery pack type deciding switch ( 214 ) is avoided to be pressed by a bottom ( 115 ) of the SQ battery pack ( 1 ) owing to the concave portion ( 131 ). In this way, as the switch ( 214 ) is avoided to be pressed, it is recognized that the set battery pack is an SQ battery pack ( 1 ) under charging. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to identify battery packs among different charging modes and charging can be performed in a proper charging mode.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a charging/discharging apparatus andmethod, a power supplying apparatus and method, a power supplying systemand method, program storing medium and program; and particularly to acharging/discharging apparatus and method, a power supplying apparatusand method, a power supplying system and method, a program storingmedium and a program where such a constitution is employed thatcharging/discharging apparatuses with different power supplying systemsare respectively identified so that they can be supplied with power inaccordance with corresponding systems.

BACKGROUND ART

A so called charging/discharging technique is generally becoming popularin which power is supplied from such a power supplying apparatus as abattery charger to a charging/discharging apparatus represented by abattery pack used in a video camera or the like to charge the same.

In such a battery pack, a time required for charging (a charging time)increases in accordance with increase in an allowable operation time ofa battery, namely, increase in charging capacity of the battery.Therefore, in order to solve a problem that the allowable operation timeof the battery should be increased, the charging time must also beincreased correspondingly. On the contrary, in order to solve a problemthat the charging time should be shortened, the allowable operation timemust also be shortened. Thus, it has been impossible to solve theseproblems conflicting with each other.

In recent years, however, in order to solve these problems, a batterypack and a battery charger have been technically advanced so that it hasbeen made possible to charge a battery pack using large current as acharging current from a battery charger. As a result, even when thecharging capacity of a battery pack is made large, it has been madepossible to shorten a time required for charging (high speed charging).

However, even when a user purchases such a battery pack technicallyadvanced, it is a rare case that a conventional type battery pack(requiring a long charging time) is discarded, and the conventionalbattery pack is often used together with the newly purchased batterypack of a high speed charging type.

However, a new type battery charger is different in charging (powersupplying) system from the conventional battery charger, and a chargingcurrent of the former is larger than that of the latter. For thisreason, for example, when the conventional type battery pack iserroneously set to the new battery charger, it may be injured due to anovercurrent.

Moreover, it is known that a proper temperature range applied forcharging is set to each battery pack, and when charging the battery packis repeated with a large charging current as described above underconditions out of the proper temperature range, the characteristic ofeach cell of the battery pack varies and the charging capacity thereofgradually decreases. Accordingly, there is a problem that, when chargingof a battery pack is repeated under the conditions out of the propertemperature range of the battery pack, the life of the battery pack isshortened.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances andits object is to make it possible to identify a charging system or atemperature condition of a battery pack to charge the battery pack inaccordance with a corresponding proper charging system.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A first charging/discharging apparatus of the present invention ischaracterized by comprising a receiving terminal for receiving powerfrom a power supplying apparatus, a position controlling portion forcontrolling a relative position with the power supplying apparatus suchthat the receiving terminal is connected with a supplying terminal towhich the power supplying apparatus supplies power, and a settingportion for setting a receivable power supplying mode.

It is possible to make the power supplying mode include a superquickmode-or a quick mode.

It is allowed to select a current value for supplying power in thesuperquick mode is larger than that in the quick mode.

A first power supplying apparatus of the present invention is providedwith setting portion detecting means for detecting presence or absenceof the setting portion, identifying means for identifying a powersupplying mode in accordance with a detection result obtained by thesetting portion detecting means and power supplying means for supplyingthe power to the charging/discharging apparatus from a supplyingterminal in the power supplying mode identified by the identifyingmeans.

It is possible to make the power supplying mode include a superquickmode or a quick mode.

It is allowed to select a current value for supplying power in thesuperquick mode is larger than that in the quick mode.

It is possible to further provide setting detecting means for detectingwhether or not the charging/discharging apparatus is set for the firstpower supplying apparatus and make attaching portion detecting meansdetect presence or absence of an attaching portion at the timing beforeit is detected that the charging/discharging apparatus is attached bythe setting detecting means.

A first power supplying method of the present invention is characterizedby comprising a setting portion detecting step for detecting presence orabsence of a setting portion, an identifying step for identifying apower supplying mode in accordance with a detection result of theprocessing in the setting portion detecting step, and a power supplyingstep for supplying the power to the charging/discharging apparatus froma supplying terminal in the power supplying mode identified by theprocessing in the identifying step.

A program in a first program storing medium of the present invention ischaracterized by comprising a setting portion detection controlling stepfor controlling detection of presence or absence of a setting portion,an identification controlling step for controlling identification of apower supplying mode in accordance with a detection result of theprocessing in said setting portion detecting step, and a power supplycontrolling step for controlling supply of the power to thecharging/discharging apparatus from a supplying terminal in the powersupplying mode identified by the processing in the identificationcontrolling step.

A first program of the present invention is characterized by executing asetting portion detection controlling step for controlling detection ofpresence or absence of a setting portion, an identification controllingstep for controlling identification of a power supplying mode inaccordance with a detection result of the processing in the settingportion detection controlling step, and a power supply controlling stepfor controlling supply of the power to the charging/dischargingapparatus from a supplying terminal.

A first power supplying system of the present invention is characterizedin that the charging/discharging apparatus is provided with a receivingterminal for receiving power from the power supplying apparatus, aposition controlling portion for controlling a relative position withthe power supplying apparatus such that the receiving terminal isconnected with a supplying terminal to which the power supplyingapparatus supplies power, and a setting portion for setting a receivablepower supplying mode; and the power supplying apparatus is provided withsetting portion detecting means for detecting presence or absence of thesetting portion, identifying means for identifying a power supplyingmode in accordance with a detection result obtained by the settingportion detecting means, and power supplying means for supplying thepower to the charging/discharging apparatus from the supplying terminalin the power supplying mode identified by the identifying means.

A second charging/discharging apparatus of the present invention ischaracterized by comprising receivable power supplying mode storingmeans for storing the information showing a receivable power supplyingmode, and transmitting means for transmitting the information showingthe power supplying mode stored by said receivable power supplying modestoring means to said power supplying apparatus.

It is possible to make the power supplying mode include a superquickmode or a quick mode.

It is allowed to select a current value for supplying power in thesuperquick mode is larger than that in the quick mode.

It is possible that the charging/discharging apparatus is furtherprovided with a receiving terminal for receiving power from the powersupplying apparatus, a position controlling portion for controlling arelative position with the power supplying apparatus such that thereceiving terminal is connected with a supplying terminal to which thepower supplying apparatus supplies power, and a setting portion at saidposition controlling portion for setting a receivable power supplyingmode at said position controlling portion depending on presence orabsence of said position controlling portion.

A second charging/discharging method of the present invention ischaracterized by comprising a receivable power supplying mode storingstep for storing the information showing a receivable power supplyingmode, and a power supplying step for supplying power to thecharging/discharging in correspondence with the power supply modereceived by the step of the receivable power supplying mode.

A program in a second program storing medium of the present invention ischaracterized by comprising a receivable power supply mode storagecontrolling step for controlling storage of the information showing areceivable power supplying mode, and a transmission controlling step forcontrolling transmission processing of the information showing the powersupplying mode stored by the processing in the receivable powersupplying mode storage controlling step to the power supplyingapparatus.

A second program of the present invention executes a receivable powersupplying mode storage controlling step for controlling storage of areceivable power supplying mode, and a transmission controlling step forcontrolling transmission processing of the information showing the powersupplying mode stored by the processing in the receivable powersupplying mode-storage controlling step to the power supplyingapparatus.

A second power supplying apparatus of the present invention ischaracterized by comprising receivable power supplying mode receivingmeans for receiving the information showing a receivable power supplyingmode from the charging/discharging apparatus, and power supplying meansfor supplying power to the charging/discharging apparatus incorrespondence with the power supplying mode received from saidreceivable power supplying mode receiving means.

It is possible to make the power supplying mode include a superquickmode or quick mode.

It is allowed to select a current value for supplying power in thesuperquick mode is larger than that in the quick mode.

To supply power to a charging/discharging apparatus provided with asetting portion for setting a receivable power supplying mode, it ispossible to further provide setting portion detecting means fordetecting presence or absence of the setting portion; and identifyingmeans for identifying the power supplying mode in accordance with adetection result obtained by the setting portion detecting means whereit is possible to make the power supplying means supply power to thecharging/discharging apparatus in accordance with a matched powersupplying mode when the power supplying mode received by the receivablepower supplying mode receiving means matches with the power supplyingmode identified by the identifying means.

A second power supplying method of the present invention ischaracterized by comprising a receivable power supplying mode receivingstep for receiving the information showing a receivable power supplyingmode from the charging/discharging apparatus, and a power supplying stepfor supplying power to the charging/discharging apparatus incorrespondence with said power supplying mode received through theprocessing in said receivable power supplying mode receiving step.

A program in a third program storing medium of the present invention ischaracterized by comprising a receivable power supplying mode receptioncontrolling step for controlling reception of the information showing areceivable power supplying mode from the charging/discharging apparatus,and a power supply controlling step for controlling supply of power tothe charging/discharging apparatus c in correspondence with the powersupplying mode received through the processing in the received powersupplying mode reception controlling step.

A third program of the present invention is characterized by executing areceivable power supplying mode reception controlling step forcontrolling reception of the information showing a receivable powersupplying mode from the charging/discharging apparatus, and a powersupply controlling step for controlling supply of power to thecharging/discharging apparatus in correspondence with the powersupplying mode received through the processing in the received powersupplying mode reception controlling step.

A second power supplying system of the present invention ischaracterized in that the charging/discharging apparatus is providedwith receivable power supplying mode storing means for storing theinformation showing a receivable power supplying mode, and transmittingmeans for transmitting the information showing the power supplying modestored by the receivable power supplying mode storing means to the powersupplying apparatus; and the power supplying apparatus is provided withreceivable power supplying mode receiving means for receiving theinformation showing a receivable power supplying mode from thecharging/discharging apparatus and power supplying means for supplyingpower to the charging/discharging apparatus in correspondence with thepower supplying mode received by the receivable power supplying modereceiving means.

It is possible to make the power supplying mode include a superquickmode or a quick mode.

It is allowed to select a current value for supplying power in thesuperquick mode is larger than that in the quick mode.

It is possible to further provide in the charging/discharging apparatusa receiving terminal for receiving power from a power supplyingapparatus, a position controlling portion for controlling a relativeposition with the power supplying apparatus such that the receivingterminal is connected with a supplying terminal to which the powersupplying apparatus supplies power, and a setting portion at theposition controlling portion for setting a receivable power supplyingmode depending on presence or absence of the position controllingportion; to further provide in the power supplying apparatus settingportion detecting means for detecting presence or absence of the settingportion, and identifying means for identifying the power supplying modein correspondence with a detection result obtained by the settingportion detecting means; and to make the power supplying means supplypower to the charging/discharging apparatus in the matched powersupplying mode when the power supplying mode received by the receivablepower supplying mode receiving means matches with the power supplyingmode identified by the identifying means.

A power supplying method of the second power supplying system of thepresent invention is characterized in that the charging/dischargingmethod of the charging/discharging apparatus comprises a receivablepower supplying mode storing step for storing the information showing areceivable power supplying mode, and a transmitting step fortransmitting the information showing the power supplying mode stored bythe processing in the receivable power supplying mode storing step tothe power supplying apparatus; and the power supplying method of thepower supplying apparatus comprises a receivable power supplying modereceiving step for receiving the information showing a receivable powera receivable power supplying mode from the charging/dischargingapparatus and a power supplying step for supplying power to thecharging/discharging apparatus in correspondence with the powersupplying mode received through the processing in the receivable powersupplying mode receiving step.

A program in a fourth program storing medium of the present invention ischaracterized in that the program for controlling thecharging/discharging apparatus comprises a receivable power supplyingmode storage controlling step for controlling storage of the informationshowing a receivable power supplying mode, and a transmissioncontrolling step for controlling transmission processing of theinformation showing the power supplying mode stored through theprocessing in the receivable power supplying mode storage controllingstep; and the program for controlling the power supplying apparatuscomprises a receivable power supplying mode reception controlling stepfor controlling reception of the information showing a receivable powersupplying mode from said charging/discharging apparatus, and a powersupply controlling step for controlling supply of power to thecharging/discharging apparatus in correspondence with the powersupplying mode received through the processing in the receivable powersupplying mode reception controlling step.

A fourth program of the present invention is characterized by making thecomputer which controls the charging/discharging apparatus execute areceivable power supplying mode storage controlling step for controllingstorage of the information showing a receivable power supplying mode,and a transmission controlling step for controlling transmissionprocessing of the information showing the power supplying mode storedthrough the processing in the receivable power supplying mode storagecontrolling step to the power supplying apparatus; and making a computerwhich controls the power supplying apparatus execute a receivable powersupplying mode reception controlling step for controlling reception ofthe information showing receivable power supplying mode from thecharging/discharging apparatus, and a power supply controlling step forcontrolling supply of power to the charging/discharging apparatus incorrespondence with the power supplying mode received through theprocessing in the receivable power supplying mode reception controllingstep.

A third charging/discharging apparatus of the present invention ischaracterized by comprising temperature measuring means for measuring anown internal temperature; and transmitting means for transmitting theinternal temperature data measured by the temperature measuring means tothe power supplying apparatus.

A charging/discharging method of the third charging/dischargingapparatus of the present invention is characterized by comprising atemperature measuring step for measuring an own internal temperature;and a transmitting step for transmitting the internal temperature datameasured in the temperature measuring step to the power supplyingapparatus.

A program in a fifth program storing medium of the present invention ischaracterized by comprising a temperature measurement controlling stepfor controlling an own internal temperature, and a transmissioncontrolling step for controlling transmission processing of the internaltemperature data measured in the temperature measurement controllingstep to the power supplying apparatus.

A fifth program of the present invention is characterized by executing atemperature measurement controlling step for controlling measurement ofan own internal temperature, and a transmission controlling step forcontrolling transmission processing of the internal temperature datameasured in the temperature measurement controlling step to the powersupplying apparatus.

A third power supplying apparatus of the present invention ischaracterized by comprising receiving means for receiving internaltemperature data of the charging/discharging apparatus transmitted fromthe charging/discharging apparatus, temperature measuring means formeasuring an own internal temperature, and power supplying mode changingmeans for changing power supplying modes of the power to be supplied toa charging/discharging apparatus based on the internal temperature dataof the charging/discharging apparatus received by the receiving means orthe own temperature data measured by the temperature measuring means.

It is possible to make the power supplying mode changing means changethe current mode to a power supplying mode which supplies power at asmall current when the internal temperature data of thecharging/discharging apparatus received by the receiving means are outof a predetermined preset temperature range.

It is possible to make the power supplying mode changing means stop thesupply of power when the temperature data measured by temperaturemeasuring means are out of a predetermined preset temperature range.

A third power supplying method of the present invention is characterizedby comprising a receiving step for receiving internal temperature dataof the charging/discharging apparatus transmitted from thecharging/discharging apparatus, a temperature measuring step formeasuring an own internal temperature, and power supplying modeschanging step for changing power supplying modes of the power to besupplied to the charging/discharging apparatus based on the internaltemperature data of the charging/discharging apparatus received throughthe processing in the receiving step or the own temperature datameasured through the processing in the temperature measurementcontrolling step.

A program in a sixth program storing medium of the present invention ischaracterized by comprising a reception controlling step for controllingreception of internal temperature data of the charging/dischargingapparatus transmitted from the charging/discharging apparatus, atemperature measurement controlling step for controlling measurement ofan own internal temperature, and a supplying mode change controllingstep for controlling change of power supplying modes of the power to besupplied to the charging/discharging apparatus based on the internaltemperature data of the charging/discharging apparatus received throughthe processing in the reception controlling step or the own temperaturedata measured through the processing in the temperature measurementcontrolling step.

A sixth program of the present invention is characterized by executing areception controlling step for controlling reception of internaltemperature data of the charging/discharging apparatus transmitted fromthe charging/discharging apparatus, a temperature measurementcontrolling step for controlling measurement of an own internaltemperature, and a power supplying mode change controlling step forcontrolling change of power supplying modes of the power to be suppliedto the charging/discharging apparatus based on the internal temperaturedata of the charging/discharging apparatus received through theprocessing in the reception controlling step or the own temperature datameasured through the processing in the temperature measurementcontrolling step.

A third power supplying system of the present invention is characterizedin that the charging/discharging apparatus is provided withcharging/discharging apparatus temperature measuring means for measuringan internal temperature of the charging/discharging apparatus, andtransmitting means for transmitting the internal temperature data of thecharging/discharging apparatus measured by the charging/dischargingapparatus temperature measuring means to the power supplying apparatus;and the power supplying apparatus is provided with receiving means forreceiving the internal temperature data of the charging/dischargingapparatus transmitted from the charging/discharging apparatus, powersupplying apparatus temperature measuring means for measuring aninternal temperature of said power supplying apparatus, and powersupplying mode changing means for changing power supplying modes of thepower to be supplied to the charging/discharging apparatus in accordancewith the internal temperature data of the charging/discharging apparatusreceived by the receiving means or the internal temperature data of thepower supplying apparatus measured by the power supplying apparatustemperature measuring means.

It is possible to make the power supplying mode changing means changethe present mode to a power supplying mode which supplies power at asmall current when the internal temperature data of thecharging/discharging apparatus received by the receiving means are outof a predetermined preset temperature range.

It is possible to make the power supplying mode changing means stop thesupply of power when the temperature data measured by the powersupplying apparatus temperature measuring means are out of apredetermined preset temperature range.

A power supplying method of the third power supplying system of thepresent invention is characterized in that the charging/dischargingmethod of the charging/discharging apparatus comprises acharging/discharging apparatus temperature measuring step for measuringan internal temperature of the charging/discharging apparatus, and atransmitting step for transmitting the internal temperature data of thecharging/discharging apparatus measured through the processing in thecharging/discharging apparatus temperature measuring step to the powersupplying apparatus; and the power supplying method of the powersupplying apparatus comprises a receiving step for receiving theinternal temperature data of the charging/discharging apparatustransmitted from the charging/discharging apparatus, and a powersupplying mode changing step for changing power supplying modes of thepower to be supplied to the charging/discharging apparatus based on theinternal temperature data of the charging/discharging apparatus receivedthrough the processing in the receiving step or the internal temperaturedata of the power supplying apparatus measured through the processing inthe power supplying apparatus temperature measuring step.

A program of a seventh program storing medium of the present inventionis characterized in that the program for controlling thecharging/discharging apparatus comprises a charging/dischargingapparatus temperature measurement controlling step for controlling theinternal temperature measurement of the charging/discharging apparatus,and a transmission controlling step for controlling transmissionprocessing of the internal temperature data of the charging/dischargingapparatus measured through the processing in said charging/dischargingapparatus temperature measurement controlling step to the powersupplying apparatus; and the program for controlling the power supplyingapparatus c comprises a reception controlling step for controllingreception of the internal temperature data of the charging/dischargingapparatus transmitted from the charging/discharging apparatus, a powersupplying apparatus temperature measurement controlling step forcontrolling measurement of the internal temperature of the powersupplying apparatus, and a power supplying mode change controlling stepfor controlling change of power supplying modes of the power to besupplied to the charging/discharging apparatus in accordance with theinternal temperature data of the charging/discharging apparatus receivedthrough the processing in the reception controlling step or the internaltemperature data of the power supplying apparatus measured through theprocessing in the power supplying apparatus temperature measurementcontrolling step.

A seventh program of the present invention is characterized by making acomputer which controls the charging/discharging apparatus execute acharging/discharging apparatus temperature measurement controlling stepfor controlling measurement of the internal temperature of thecharging/discharging apparatus, and a transmission controlling step forcontrolling transmission processing of the internal temperature data ofthe charging/discharging apparatus to the power supplying apparatus; andmaking the computer which controls the power supplying apparatus executea reception controlling step for controlling reception of the internaltemperature data of the charging/discharging apparatus transmitted fromthe charging/discharging apparatus, a power supplying apparatustemperature measurement controlling step for controlling measurement ofthe internal temperature of the power supplying apparatus, and a powersupplying mode change controlling step for controlling change of powersupplying modes of the power to be supplied to the charging/dischargingapparatus based on the internal temperature data of thecharging/discharging apparatus received through the processing in thereception controlling step or the intenal temperature data of the powersupplying apparatus measured through the processing in the powersupplying apparatus temperature measurement controlling step.

In case of the first charging/discharging apparatus of the presentinvention, a relative position with a power supplying apparatus iscontrolled such that a receiving terminal for receiving power from apower supplying apparatus connects with a supplying terminal for thepower supplying apparatus to supply power and a receivable powersupplying mode is set.

In case of the first power supplying apparatus, method and the firstprogram of the present invention, presence or absence of a settingportion is detected, a power supplying mode is identified in accordancewith the detection result, and power is supplied to acharging/discharging apparatus from a supplying terminal in anidentified power supplying mode.

In case of the first power supplying system of the present invention, arelative position to a power supplying apparatus is controlled such thata receiving terminal for receiving power from a power supplyingapparatus connects with a supplying terminal for the power supplyingapparatus to supply power, a receivable power supplying mode is set,presence or absence of a setting portion is detected, a power supplyingmode is identified in accordance with the detection result, and power issupplied to the charging/discharging apparatus from the supplyingterminal in an identified power supplying mode.

In case of the second charging/discharging apparatus, method and thesecond program of the present invention, the information showing areceivable power supplying mode is stored and the information showingthe stored power supplying mode is transmitted to a power supplyingapparatus.

In case of the second power supplying apparatus and method and the thirdprogram of the present invention, the information showing a receivablepower supplying mode is received from a charging/discharging apparatusand power is supplied to the charging/discharging apparatus incorrespondence with a received power supplying mode.

In case of the second power supplying system and a power supplyingmethod of the second power supplying system, and the fourth program ofthe present invention, the information showing a receivable powersupplying mode is stored by a charging/discharging apparatus, theinformation showing the stored power supplying mode is transmitted to apower supplying apparatus, the information showing the receivable powersupplying mode output from the charging/discharging apparatus isreceived by the power supplying apparatus, and power is supplied to thecharging/discharging apparatus in correspondence with a received powersupplying mode.

In case of the third charging/discharging apparatus, method and thefifth program of the present invention, an own internal temperature ofits own is measured and the measured internal temperature is transmittedto a power supplying apparatus.

In case of the third power supplying apparatus and method and the sixthprogram of the present invention, the internal temperature data of acharging/discharging apparatus transmitted from the charging/dischargingapparatus is received, an own internal temperature is measured, andpower supplying modes of the power to be supplied to thecharging/discharging apparatus are changed in accordance with thereceived internal temperature data of the charging/discharging apparatusor the measured own internal temperature data.

In case of the third power supplying system, a power supplying method ofthe third power supplying system, and the seventh program of the presentinvention, the internal temperature of a charging/discharging apparatusis measured by the charging/discharging apparatus, the measured internaltemperature data of the charging/discharging apparatus are transmittedto a power supplying apparatus, the internal temperature data of thecharging/discharging apparatus transmitted from the charging/dischargingapparatus are received by the power supplying apparatus, the internaltemperature of the power supplying apparatus is measured, and powersupplying modes of the power which supplies to the charging/dischargingapparatus are changed based on the received internal temperature data ofthe charging/discharging apparatus or the measured internal temperaturedata of the power supplying apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view for explaining a SQ battery pack to which the presentinvention is applied;

FIG. 2 is a view showing details of the SQ battery pack in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view showing details of the SQ battery pack in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view showing details of a conventional battery pack;

FIG. 5 is a view showing a configuration of a battery charger;

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the displaying portion in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view showing details of the slot in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a view showing a configuration for attaching the SQ batterypack in FIG. 1 to the slot in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a configuration nearby the type of battery packdeciding switch in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view showing a configuration for setting the battery packin FIG. 4 to the slot in FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a view showing a configuration nearby the type of batterypack deciding switch in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a view showing a first electrical configuration of a SQbattery pack and a battery charger;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining the charging control processing bya battery charger;

FIG. 14 is a view showing another example of the type of battery packdeciding concave portion in FIG. 3;

FIG. 15 is a view showing still another example of the type of batterypack deciding concave portion in FIG. 3;

FIG. 16 is a view showing a second electrical configuration example of aSQ battery pack and a battery charger;

FIG. 17 is a view showing a table for deciding a charging mode of amicrocomputer of a battery charger;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining the charging control processing bya battery charger;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining an SQ battery pack or thetransmission processing of the charging mode data of the SQ batterypack;

FIG. 20 is a view showing a third electrical configuration of a SQbattery pack and a battery charger;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining the charging control processing bya battery charger;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart for explaining the transmission processing oftemperature data by the SQ battery pack in FIG. 3;

FIG. 23 is a view showing a displayed example of the displaying portionin FIG. 5;.

FIG. 24 is a view showing a displayed example of the displaying portionin FIG. 5; and

FIG. 25 is a view for explaining a program storing medium.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a view showing a configuration of an embodiment of a SQ (SuperQuick) battery pack 1 of the present invention. The SQ battery pack 1 isset to a battery attaching portion 3 of a video camera 2. The SQ batterypack 1 is attached to the battery attaching portion 3 of the videocamera 2 to supply power to the video camera 2. Moreover, with referenceto FIG. 5, the SQ battery pack 1 is constituted such that it can beattached to a battery charger 151 to be described later, which ischarged by the battery charger 151. Moreover, a conventional batterypack 11 (FIG. 4) can be set to the battery attaching portion 3. Thecharging time of the SQ battery pack 1 is shorter than that of theconventional battery pack 11, because it can be charged at a largercurrent when it is charged by the battery charger 151.

Then, details of the SQ battery pack 1 are described below withreference to FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, a case 101, which stores abattery cell 1251 a or 1251 b with reference to FIG. 12, is provided inthe pack 1.

The case 101 of the SQ battery pack 1 is formed by a synthetic resin.Guide grooves 102 a to 102 d (FIG. 3) for guiding the battery attachingportion 3, or slots 162 a or 162 b of battery charger 151 in theattaching direction shown by the arrow A in FIG. 2 are formed on thewidth directional both side faces of the case 101. In FIG. 2, only theguide grooves 102 a and 102 b are shown.

In the following description, the guide grooves 102 a to 102 d arereferred to as the guide 102 when it is not necessary to individuallydistinguish the guide grooves 102 a to 102 d. The same is applied toother configurations.

As shown in FIG. 3, each guide groove 102 on each side face is formedwhile one end of the groove 102 is opened on the bottom 115 of the case101 and formed in the longitudinal direction of the case 101 inparallel.

Input/output terminals 112 and 113 are formed at the width directionalboth sides of the case 101 at the front portion 111 shown by thedirection of the arrow A in FIG. 3 to the battery attaching portion 3 ora slot 162 of the battery charger 151 and a communication terminal 114is attached to the approximate center in the width direction.

The input/output terminals 112 and 113 receive power from the batterycharger 151. The communication terminal 114 communicates the informationsuch as the charging capacities or the like of the battery charger 151and SQ battery pack 1. Outward one ends of the input/output terminals112 and 113 and communication terminal 114 are located in anapproximately rectangular concave portion formed at the front portion111 of the case 101. Therefore, the battery attaching portion 3 or thebattery charger 151 is prevented from being broken due to the contactwith a portion other than each connection terminal.

A pair of controlling concave portions 116 and 117 are formed on thefront portion in the setting direction (front portion in longitudinaldirection) shown by the arrow A in FIG. 3 at the bottom 115 of the case101. As shown in FIG. 3, these controlling concave portions 116 and 117are formed so as to be line symmetric to the approximate center line(not illustrated) in the transverse direction. For setting, thesecontrolling concave portions 116 and 117 are engaged with controllingconvex portions 206 and 207 of the battery charger 151 (FIG. 7) tocontrol the width directional tilt of the bottom 115 of the case 101from the slots 162.

As shown in FIG. 3, the controlling concave portions 116 and 117 arerespectively provided with a first portion formed perpendicularly to thebottom 115 of the case 101 and a second portion formed perpendicularlyto the first portion and whose cross sections are respectively formedlike L shape. Moreover, an approximately rectangular identifying concaveportion 118 for identifying the adaptive slot 162 is formed at theapproximate center of the bottom 115 of the case 101.

As shown in FIG. 3, the identifying concave portion 118 is formed on theapproximate center line of the case 101 in its width direction andlocated at the front portion 111 at the approximate center of the bottom115 of the case 101. An approximately rectangular identifying groove 119is continuously formed at the longitudinal directional both ends on theapproximate width directional center line of the case 101 at the bottomof the inside of the identifying concave portion 118. A stepped portionis formed at the width directional both sides of the bottom 115 of thecase 101 in the identifying concave portion 118.

The dimension of the width-directional both sides of the identifyingconcave portion 118 is formed at the dimension width WO (WO is apredetermined dimension).

Moreover, a guide groove 120 adjacent to the communication terminal 114is formed in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the case 101.One end of the guide groove 120 opens at the front portion 111 of thecase 101 and the other end of it is formed by being continued with theidentifying concave portion 118. Stepped portions 121 different fromeach other in depth are formed on the guide groove 120 in the directionperpendicular to the bottom 115 of the case 101 at the position adjacentto the front portion 111 of the case 101. The guide groove 120 guidesthe SQ battery pack 1 in the setting direction shown by the arrow A tothe slot 162 of the battery charger 151.

As shown in FIG. 3, a guide groove 122 is formed at the positionopposite to the guide groove 120 at the both sides of the communicationterminal 114. The guide groove 122 is formed in parallel with thelongitudinal direction of the bottom 115 of the case 101 and one end ofthe groove 122 opens at the front portion 111 of the case 101.

A controlling groove 103 (though not illustrated, another groove 103 isalso formed at the same position of the left side face of the frontportion 111) adjacent to the input/output terminals 112 and 113 isformed at the width directional both side faces of the case 101. Thecontrolling groove 103 opens at the front portion 111 and is formed inapproximately parallel with the bottom 115 to control the widthdirectional tilt of the bottom 115 from the slots 162.

A small locking concave portion 124 and a large locking concave portion125 to be engaged with the slot 162 are formed on the bottom 115 of thecase 101 when the bottom 115 is attached to the battery charger 151. Thesmall locking concave portion 124 is formed into an approximaterectangle on the approximate center line of the case 101 in its widthdirection so as to be adjacent to the identifying concave portion 118.The large locking concave portion 125 is formed into an approximaterectangle slightly larger than the small locking concave portion 124 atthe back side in the attaching direction on the approximate center lineof the case 101 in its width direction.

A type of battery pack deciding concave portion 131 serves as a concaveportion for identifying the SQ battery pack 1 and the battery pack 11when the portion 131 is attached to the slot 162 of the battery charger151. As shown in FIG. 4, in case of the type of battery pack decidingconcave portion 131, a concave portion is formed on the portion shown byB of the conventional battery pack 11 in FIG. 4 by the same depth as theguide groove 122 and the same length as the longitudinal direction ofthe controlling portion 117 when viewed from the bottom 115. That is,the type of battery pack deciding concave portion 131 has aconfiguration in which a part of the bottom 115 of the conventionalbattery pack 11 is cut out. Because the difference between shapes of theconventional battery pack 11 and SQ battery pack 1 lies in only presenceor absence of the type of battery pack deciding concave portion 131,other description is omitted.

Then, the configuration of the battery charger 151 is described belowwith reference to FIG. 5.

It is possible to attach two battery packs to the battery charger 151.Moreover, terminal shutters 161 a and 161 b of the battery charger 151are flat. Therefore, when the SQ battery pack 1 or the battery pack 11is not attached, the shutters 161 a and 161 b are pushed out in thedirection opposite to the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 5 due to therepulsion of a not illustrated spring built in the body of the batterycharger 151 and fixed at a predetermined length to cover terminalportions of the battery charger 151 to be described later. Moreover,when the SQ battery pack 1 or battery pack 11 is attached along the slot162 and the terminal shutters 161 are pushed against the repulsion of anot illustrated spring by the front portion 111, the shutters 161 slidein the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 5 and are stored in the body ofthe battery charger 151. Thus, because the terminal shutters 161 arestored, the terminal portion of the battery charger 151 is exposed andmoreover, the SQ battery pack 11 or battery pack 1 is attached(connected). Details of the slot 162 will be described later.

A DC (Direct Current) input terminal 163 is a terminal to which a notillustrated cable for supplying power to the battery charger 151 isattached and rated power is supplied. A DC output terminal 164 is aterminal to which a not illustrated cable for outputting the powersupplied from the DC input terminal 163 to a video camera 2 is attachedand which outputs the power at a voltage value and a current valuecorresponding to the video camera 2.

Charging lamps 165 a and 165 b are lamps for respectively showing abattery pack currently supplying (charging) power among the batterypacks attached to the slots 162 a and 162 b and are turned on at theslot 162 supplying power.

A mode changing switch 166 is a switch for changing operation modes ofthe battery charger 151 and selecting either of the mode to output to avideo camera set to the DC output terminal 164 and the mode to charge abattery pack attached to the slots 162.

A charging mode lamp 167 shows two modes while the battery charger 151performs charging. One of them is a quick charging mode for charging theconventional battery pack 11 and the other of them is a superquickcharging mode for charging the SQ battery pack 1. The superquickcharging mode is a mode to quickly perform charging at a large currentcompared to the case of the quick charging mode.

A display portion 168 is constituted of a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)or the like to display a charged state or other information.

FIG. 6 shows details of the displaying portion 168. FIG. 6 shows a statein which all portions which can be displayed as an LCD are displayed.Therefore, a part of the display in FIG. 6 is actually displayed.

A charging trouble displaying portion 181 is a portion showing “chargingtrouble” located at the top left of the displaying portion 168, which isdisplayed when a trouble is detected in the set SQ battery pack 1 orbattery pack 11 while it is charged.

A remaining charging time displaying portion 182 displays a remainingcharging time, on which a message “up to end of practical use charging”is displayed when showing a practical use charged state, that is, thetime up to an operable charged state, a message “up to end of fullcharging” when showing the charging time until completely charged in thedisplay “up to end of practical use full charging” and in this case, thetime up to end of each charging is displayed on a time displayingportion 183.

An allowable operation time displaying portion 184 is displayed whendisplaying the allowable operation time of the SQ battery pack 11 orbattery pack 11 and in this case, a corresponding allowable operationtime is displayed on the time displaying portion 183.

A video camera displaying portion 185 is displayed in a mode in whichpower is supplied to the video camera 2 by the mode changing switch 166.

A full charge displaying portion 186 is displayed when the attached SQbattery pack 1 or battery pack 11 is fully charged (charging capacity of100%). A battery mark 187 displays a charged state of the SQ batterypack 1 or battery pack 11, in which a displayed portion increases as thecurrent charged state approaches a fully charged state and the displayedportion decreases when a charged capacity is small.

The battery charger 151 in FIG. 5 is described below again.

A charge slot displaying lamp 169 is constituted of two lamps showingthe slots 162 a and 162 b respectively and is a lamp showing that thedisplaying portion 168 shows the information on an attached batterypack.

A display changing button 170 is a button for changing displayedcontents of the displaying portion 168 whenever the display chargingbutton is pressed. Whenever pressing the display charging button, thedisplayed slot 162 is changed (change of charge slot lamp 169) and thetime display up to end of charging and the allowable operation timedisplay are changed.

Then, the detailed configuration of the slot 162 is described below withreference to FIG. 7. The slot 162 a and 162 b have the sameconfiguration.

The slot 162 is formed so as to be slightly larger than the shape of thebottom 115 of the SQ battery pack 1 or battery pack 11. The slot 162 hasa pair of guide convex portions 201 a and 201 b engaged with each guidegroove 102 of the SQ battery pack 1 of battery pack 11 adjacently to amounting face 208 at each side opposite to the width directional bothsides of the SQ battery pack 1 of battery pack 11. Though notillustrated, two guide portions 201 a and 201 b are further provided atpositions opposite to the direction vertical to the direction of thearrow A of the slots 162.

The guide convex portions 201 are inserted into the guide grooves 102 ofthe case 101 respectively when attaching the SQ battery pack 1 orbattery pack 11. Thereby, the slot 162 guides an inserting direction bymaking the bottom 115 of the case 101 approximately parallel with themounting face 208 and hold the SQ battery pack 1 or battery pack 11.

When setting the SQ battery pack 1 or battery pack 11, connectionterminals 202 and 203 and a communication terminal 204 are arranged onthe bumping face 205 of a slot opposite to the front portion 111. Theseterminals are usually covered under a state in which the terminalshutter 161 slides up to the same position as the right side in FIG. 7where the controlling convex portions 206 and 207 become L shape in thedirection opposite to the direction of the arrow A and protected from animpact or the like. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the terminal shutter168 slides in the direction of the arrow A and is housed in the body ofthe battery charger 151.

The connection terminals 202 and 203 are located at the widthdirectional both sides of the slot 162 and connected to the input/outputterminals 112 and 113 of the SQ battery pack 1 or battery pack 11respectively. The communication terminal 204 is located at theapproximate center of the slot 162 in its width directions and connectedto the communication terminal 114 of the battery pack 1. The connectionterminals 202 and 203 and the communication terminal 204 are arranged onthe bumping face 205 of the slot 162 in parallel with the bottom 115 ofthe SQ battery pack 1 or battery pack 11 and in parallel with thelongitudinal direction of the SQ battery pack 1 or battery pack 11.

Moreover, a pair of controlling convex potions 206 and 207 engaged withthe controlling concave portions 116 and 117 of the SQ battery pack 1 orbattery pack 11 respectively while bestriding the bumping face 205 andmounting face 208 are respectively integrally formed on the slot 162line symmetrically to the approximate center line in the widthdirection.

These controlling convex portions 206 and 207 respectively have a firstportion formed perpendicularly to the mounting face 208 and a secondportion formed perpendicularly to the first portion and whose crosssections respectively show an approximate L shape. These controllingconvex portions 206 and 207 control that the bottom 115 of the batterypack 11 is tilted from the mounting face 208 of the slot 162 in thewidth direction.

Moreover, a guide convex portion 210 for guiding the inserting directionof the SQ battery pack 1 or battery pack 11 are integrally formed at aposition adjacent to the communication terminal 204 while bestriding thebumping face 205 and mounting face 208. As shown in FIG. 7, the guideconvex portion 210 is formed in parallel with the longitudinal directionof the mounting face 208 at a position engaged with the guide groove 120at the bottom 115 of the SQ battery pack 1 or battery pack 11 to beattached.

Furthermore, a guide convex portion 211 for guiding the attachingdirection of the SQ battery pack 1 or battery pack 11 is formed on theslot 162 in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the mountingface 208 while bestriding the bumping face 205 and mounting face 208.The guide convex portion 211 guides the setting direction by engagingwith the guide groove 122 of the SQ battery pack 1 or battery pack 11.

Furthermore, a controlling pawl 209 engaging with a controlling groove123 is integrally protruded and formed at the width directional bothsides of the slot 162 respectively. The controlling pawl 209 is formedin parallel with the mounting face 208 and the longitudinal direction ofthe SQ battery pack.1 or battery pack 11. Though not illustrated, onemore controlling pawl 209 is formed on a face opposite to the slot 162in the direction vertical to the direction of the arrow A.

Furthermore, an identifying convex portion 212 engaging with theidentifying convex portion 118 for identifying whether the SQ batterypack 1 or battery pack 11 can be charged is integrally formed with theslot 162 at the approximate center of the mounting face 208. Theidentifying convex portion 212 is formed into an approximate rectangularparallelepiped. A convex piece 212a engaging with the identifying groove119 of the SQ battery pack 1 or battery pack 11 is integrally formed atthe front end of the identifying convex portion 212. Furthermore, asshown in FIG. 7, the identifying convex portion 212 is formed such thatthe dimension of the mounting face 208 parallel with the width directionbecomes equal to a width W1 smaller than the width W0 of the identifyingconcave portion 118 of the SQ battery pack 1 or battery pack 11 and theportion 212 can be inserted into the identifying concave portion 118.Furthermore, the identifying convex portion 212 is formed at a positionseparate by a predetermined distance in the direction orthogonal to thebumping face 205.

A charging on/off switch 213 is a spring like switch which is turned onwhen the SQ battery pack 1 or battery pack 11 is attached on themounting face 208 so as to contact with the bottom 115 and pressed bythe bottom 115 at a force equal to or more than the repulsion of thespring of the charging on/off switch 213 while sliding in the directionof the arrow A in FIG. 7 and outputs the start of charging to amicrocomputer 1271 (FIG. 12).

A type of battery pack deciding switch 214 is a spring like switch foridentifying whether a set battery pack is the conventional battery pack11 or SQ battery pack 1. As shown in FIG. 8, for example, when the SQbattery pack 1 is attached, the type of battery pack deciding concaveportion 131 is provided for a position corresponding to the type ofbattery pack deciding switch 214 of the SQ battery pack 1 and because ofthe concave portion, the type of battery pack deciding switch 214 is notpressed by the bottom 115 of the SQ battery pack 1 as shown in FIG. 9.In this case, contact points 241 a and 241 b are kept contacted eachother due to the upward repulsion of a spring 292, the electricallyconnected information is communicated to the microcomputer 1271 (FIG.12), and thereby it is recognized that an attached battery pack is theSQ battery pack 1 under the charging to be described later. The type ofbattery pack deciding switch 214 decides an off state when the contactpoints 241 a and 241 b contact.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 10, when the conventional battery pack 11 isattached, the portion B having no concave portion shown in FIG. 4 slidesto a position corresponding to the type of battery pack deciding switch214 of the battery pack 11 in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 10.Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the bottom 115 presses the type ofbattery pack deciding switch 214 at a force equal to or more than theupward repulsion of the spring 292 in FIG. 11. In this case, the contactpoints 241 a and 241 b become non contact state and thereby, become anot electrically connected state. When the above information iscommunicated to the microcomputer 1271 (FIG. 12) and thereby, it isrecognized that a set battery pack is the conventional battery pack 11under the charging to be described later. The type of battery packdeciding switch 214 decides the on state when the contact points 241 aand 241 b are kept in a non contact state.

Though the type of battery pack deciding switch 214 is pressed inaccordance with the above configuration, the charging on/off switch 213is also pressed in accordance with the same principle. In case of the SQbattery pack 1 and conventional battery pack 11, however, because aconcave portion is not formed at a corresponding position, the SQbattery pack 1 or battery pack 11 always turn on the switch when theyare attached. As shown in FIG. 8 or 10, the type of battery packdeciding switch 214 is set at a position more separate from the bumpingface 205 than the charging on/off switch 213 by a distance L1.Therefore, when the battery pack 11, for example, is set, the type ofbattery pack deciding switch 214 is pressed earlier than the chargingon/off switch 213. As a result, it is possible to discriminate the typeof a battery pack before the charging on/off switch 213 is pressed andtherefore the charging mode can be changed to the superquick chargingmode correspondingly, so that it is possible to avoid applying a largecurrent of the superquick charging mode which is supplied to the SQbattery pack 1 to the battery pack 11 and then to present the batterypack 11 from being broken due to an overcurrent.

Moreover, by using the switch configuration shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, thecontact points 241 a and 241 b may be brought into a non contact statewhen the spring 242 of the switch is continuously pressed against thebottom 115 of the battery pack 11 and thereby, the upward repulsion inFIG. 9 or 11 is decreased. However, even if the repulsion of the springis decreased, the type of battery pack deciding switch 214 is alwayskept in the on state and thereby, the quick charging mode is alwayskept. Therefore, even if the conventional battery pack 11 is set, it ispossible to prevent the battery pack 11 from being broken due to anovercurrent.

Since the slot 162 is constituted as described above, it is possible toattach the SQ battery pack 1 or battery pack 11 to the battery charger151.

The battery attaching portion 3 of the video camera 2 to which thebattery pack 11 is attached has the same configuration as the slot 162.

Then, an electrical configuration (first configuration) of the SQbattery pack 1 and battery charger 151 is described below with referenceto FIG. 12. The SQ battery pack 1 is attached to the slots 162 a and 162b in FIG. 12 and the both configurations are the same.

The battery cell 1251 of the SQ battery pack 1 is a cell for storing thepower supplied from the battery charger 151 by the input/outputterminals 112 and 113.

A microcomputer 1252 is constituted of a CPU (Central Processing Unit),RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory), and driven by thepower supplied through a reg (regulator) 1253. The microcomputer 1252collects not only the charged state information of the battery cell 1251but also various information in the SQ battery pack 1, controls acommunication circuit 1254, and supplies information to the batterycharger 151 through the communication terminal 114.

Though the conventional battery pack 11 has the same configuration, itcannot be charged at a large current compared to the SQ battery pack 1because the characteristic of the battery cell 1251 is different.

Then, an electrical configuration example (first configuration) of thebattery charger 151 is described below.

The microcomputer 1271 of the battery charger 151 is constituted of aCPU, a RAM and a ROM to execute various processings of the batterycharger 151 and displays various information on the displaying portion168. The communication circuit 1272 is controlled by the microcomputer1271 to communicate with either of SQ battery packs 1 a and 1 b attachedto the slots 162 a and 162 b by a communication switching unit 1273.

The charging changeover switch 1274 is controlled by the microcomputer1271 to switch to a terminal 1274 b or 1274 c which corresponds toeither of the slots 162 a and 162 b to be charged from a terminal 1274 awhich is a currently resting terminal at the start of charging.

A charging mode changeover switch 1275 is controlled by themicrocomputer 1271 to switch to the charging mode corresponding to on oroff state of the type of battery pack deciding switch 214. Morespecifically, the charging mode changeover switch 1275 is switched froma currently resting terminal 1275 a to a terminal 1275 c connected to aquick charging mode power source 1277 in case of the battery pack 11 andto a terminal 1275 c connected to a superquick charging mode powersource 1276 in case of the SQ battery pack 1 under charging inaccordance with the type of the battery pack set to the slot 162.

Then, the charging control processing when charging the SQ battery pack1 or battery pack 11 by setting it to the slot 162 a of the batterycharger 151 is described below with reference to the flowchart shown inFIG. 13.

In a step S1, the microcomputer 1271 judges whether or not the type ofbattery pack deciding switch 214 is turned on. When the microcomputer1271 judges that the switch 214 is not turned on as shown in FIGS. 8 and9, for example, the processing advances to a step S2.

In the step S2, the microcomputer 1271 regards an attached battery packas an SQ battery pack 1 and controls the charging mode changeover switch1275 to change from the terminal 1275 a to the terminal 1275 b and tothe superquick charging mode power source 1276.

In a step S3, the microcomputer 1271 judges whether or not the chargingon/off switch 213 is turned on. When the microcomputer 1271 judges thatthe switch 213 is turned on, it changes the charging changeover switchfrom the currently resting terminal 1274 a to the terminal 1274 b in astep S4 and charging the SQ battery pack 1 is started.

In a step S5, the microcomputer 1271 communicates with the microcomputer1252 through the communication circuit 1272, the communication switchingunit 1273, the communication terminals 204 and 114, and judges whetheror not the charging is completed where the processing is repeated untilthe charging is completed. When the microcomputer judges that chargingis completed, it controls the charging changeover switch 1274 such thatthe terminal 1274 b is changed to the terminal 1274 a and the chargingmode changeover switch 1275 is changed from the terminal 1275 b to theterminal 1275 a in a step S6, and the processing returns to the step S1.

Moreover, when it is judged in the step S1 that the switch is turned onas shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the microcomputer 1271 regards the attachedbattery pack as a conventional battery pack 11, controls the chargingmode changeover switch such that the terminal 1275 a is changed to theterminal 1275 c, and repeats the subsequent processings.

In the step S3, when it is judged that the charging on/off switch 213 isnot turned on, that is, it is turned off, the processing returns to thestep S1 and the subsequent processings are repeated.

Alternately the same processing is performed when setting the SQ batterypack 1 or battery pack 11 to the slot 162 b, so that its description isomitted.

It is described above that the type of battery pack deciding concaveportion 131 for identifying the type of a battery pack is provided forthe portion bestriding the guide portion 122 and the controlling concaveportion 117. However, it is also allowed to form a type of battery packdeciding concave portion 131 a on a part of the small locking concaveportion 124 as shown in FIG. 14 or form a type of battery pack decidingconcave portion 131 b by partially cut off the convex portion whichforms the guide groove 102 as shown in FIG. 15. In this case, the typeof battery pack deciding switch 214 is set on the mounting face 208 ofthe corresponding slot 162.

Two types such as the SQ battery pack 1 and battery pack 11 aredescribed above as types of battery packs. Moreover, it is possible toidentify more types of battery packs by combining presence and absenceof the type of battery pack deciding concave portions 131, 131 a, and131 b as shown, for example, in FIGS. 3, 14 and 15.

Thus, it is possible to judge the type of a battery pack and charge thebattery pack in a proper charging mode.

In the above description a case of identifying the charging mode of abattery pack is explained based on the shape of the battery pack, but itis to be understood that it is allowed to identify the charging mode ofa battery pack in accordance with other methods. For example, it is alsoallowed to store the information of charging modes in a battery pack andto change the charging modes based on that information.

Therefore, another electrical configuration (second configurationexample) of the SQ battery pack 1, battery pack 11 and-battery charger151 when storing the information of charging modes in a battery pack andchanging charging modes in accordance with the information is describedbelow with reference to FIG. 16. In FIG. 16, the SQ battery pack 1 isattached to the slot 162 a and the battery pack 11 is attached to theslot 162 b.

The battery cell 2251 of the SQ battery pack 1 is a cell which storesthe power supplied from the battery charger 151 by the input/outputterminals 112 and 113.

A microcomputer 2252 is constituted of a CPU, a RAM and a ROM, anddriven by the power supplied through a reg 2253. The microcomputer 2252collects not only the charged state information of the battery cell 2251but also various information in the SQ battery pack 1, controls acommunication circuit 2254, and supplies information to the batterycharger 151 through the communication terminal 114.

The most suitable charging mode data are stored in an EEPROM(Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) 2255 as controldata when it is fabricated. Therefore, in case of the SQ battery pack 1,the superquick charging mode data are recorded in an EEPROM 2255 a asthe most suitable charging mode data.

The conventional battery pack 11 has the same configuration as the SQbattery pack 1, but battery cells 2251 a and 2251 b are different incharacteristic and since the conventional battery pack 11 cannot becharged at a large current compared to the case of the SQ battery pack1, it is impossible to charge-the battery pack 11 in the superquickcharging mode.

Next, an electrical configuration example (second configuration example)of the battery charger 151 is described below.

The microcomputer 2271 of the battery charger 151 is constituted of aCPU, a RAM and a ROM to execute various processings of the batterycharger 151 and makes the displaying portion 168 display variousinformation. Moreover, the microcomputer 2271 controls the communicationcircuit 2272, communicates with the microcomputer 2252 through thecommunication switching unit 2273 and further, the communication circuit2254 a or 2254 b of the SQ battery pack 1 or battery pack 11 to obtainthe control data including charging mode data.

The microcomputer 2271 controls the charging changeover switch 2274 inaccordance with whether or not the charging on/off switch 213 is turnedon and changes the present terminal to the terminal of the slot 162 tobe charged. Specifically, the microcomputer 2271 changes the terminal2274 a which is a currently resting terminal to the terminal 2274 b or2274 c corresponding to the slot 162 a or 162 b to be charged.

A table shown in FIG. 17 is stored in the built in ROM of themicrocomputer 2271 which controls the charging mode changeover switch2275 based on the information showing whether or not the type of batterypack deciding switch 214 is turned on and the information on presence orabsence of the charging mode data in the control data obtained throughthe communication with a battery pack. In more detail, the microcomputer2271 judges that a battery pack to be charged is an SQ battery pack 1when the type of battery pack deciding switch 214 is turned on andcharging mode data can be obtained through the communication and changesthe charging mode changeover switch 2275 from the currently restingterminal 2275 a to the superquick changeover switch 2275 b connected toa superquick charging mode power source 2276. In the other case, thatis, when the type of battery pack deciding switch 214 is not turned onor charging mode data cannot obtained through the communication, themicrocomputer 2271 connects the charging mode changeover switch 2275 tothe terminal 2275 c and to change the present power source to a quickcharging mode power source 2277. Moreover, when the charging modechangeover switch 2275 is changed to the terminal 2275 d, an AC powersource 2278 converts the power supplied from a not illustrated AC inputterminal into DC power and supplies the DC power to the SQ battery pack1.

Next, the charging control processing when setting the SQ battery pack 1or battery pack 11 to the slot 162 a of the battery charger 151 toperform charging is described below with reference to the flowchartshown in FIG. 18.

In a step S31, the microcomputer 2271 judges whether or not the type ofbattery pack deciding switch 214 is turned on. Then, as shown in FIGS. 8and 9, when the microcomputer 2271 judges that the switch 214 is notturned on (the switch 214 is turned off), the processing advances to astep S32.

In the step S32, the microcomputer 2271 controls the communicationcircuit 2272 and requests the microcomputer 2252 of the SQ battery pack1 or battery pack 11 through the communication switching unit 2273 forthe charging mode data included in the control data stored in the EEPROM2255.

Now, the transmission processing of the charging mode data of the SQbattery pack 1 or battery pack 11 is described below with reference tothe flowchart shown in FIG. 19.

In a step S51, the microcomputer 2252 judges whether or not chargingmode data are requested by the microcomputer 2271 of the battery charger151 through the communication circuit 2254 and repeats this processinguntil the data are requested. In the step S51, when it is judged thatthe charging mode data is requested, the microcomputer 2252 accesses theEEPROM 2255 and confirms presence or absence of the charging mode dataof the control data in a step S52. For example, in case of the SQbattery pack 1, charging mode data are stored in the EEPROM 2255 ascontrol data and therefore it is judged that charging mode data arepresent and the processing advances to a step S53.

In the step S53, the microcomputer 2252 controls the communicationcircuit 2254 and transmits the charging mode data to the microcomputer2271 of the battery charger 151.

In the step S52, charging mode data are not recorded, for example, incase of the conventional battery pack 11 and then in a step S54, themicrocomputer 2252 transmits a fact that charging mode data is notpresent to the microcomputer 2271 of the battery charger 151 bycontrolling the communication circuit 2254 and the processing returns tothe step S51 and subsequent processings are repeated.

Now, the flowchart shown in FIG. 18 is described below again.

In a step S33, the microcomputer 2271 judges whether or notcommunication is possible in accordance with a response from the SQbattery pack 1 or battery pack 11 attached to the slot 162 a and whenthe microcomputer judges that communication is possible, the processingadvances to a step S34.

In the step S34, the microcomputer 2271 judges whether or not chargingmode data can be obtained through the communication and when obtained,the processing advances to a step S35.

In the step S35, the microcomputer 2271 refers to the table shown inFIG. 17 stored in a ROM, regards the set battery pack as an SQ batterypack 1, controls the charging mode changeover switch 2275, changes fromthe terminal 2275 a to the terminal 2275 b, and connects to thesuperquick charging mode power source 2276.

In a step S36, the microcomputer 2271 judges whether or not the chargingon/off switch 213 is turned on and when the microcomputer judges thatthe switch 213 is turned on, in a step S37 it changes the chargingchangeover switch from the currently resting terminal 2274 a to theterminal 2274 b and starts charging the SQ battery pack 1.

In a step S38, the microcomputer 2271 communicates with themicrocomputer 2252 of the SQ battery pack 1 through the communicationcircuit 2272, the communication switching unit 2273 and thecommunication terminals 204, 114 judges whether or not charging iscompleted, and repeats the processing until charging is completed. Whenthe microcomputer judges that charging is completed, it controls thecharging changeover switch 2274 to change from the terminal 2274 b tothe currently resting terminal 2274 a and the charging mode changeoverswitch 2275 to change from the terminal 2275 b to the terminal 2275 a,and the processing returns to the step S31.

In another aspect, when the microcomputer 2271 judges in the step S31that the switch is turned on as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, it refers tothe table shown in FIG. 17 stored in the ROM in a step S40, regards theattached battery pack as a conventional battery pack 11, controls thecharging mode changeover switch 2275, changes from the terminal 2275 ato the terminal 2275 c, and repeats subsequent processings.

When it is judged in the step S33 that communication is not possible,the microcomputer 2271 judges in a step S41 whether or not thecommunication is retried ten times and when the retried communication isless than ten times, the processing returns to the step S32. In moredetail, the processings in the steps S32, S33 and S41 are repeated untilthe retried communication goes over ten times. When it is judged in thestep S42 that the retry goes over ten times, the microcomputer 2271controls the displaying portion 168 and display an error in a step S42and the processing returns to the step S31.

When it is judged in the step S36 that the charging on/off switch 213 isnot turned on, that is, it is turned off, the processing returns to thestep S31 and subsequent processings are repeated.

In the above explanation the same processing is performed when settingand charging the SQ battery pack 1 or the battery pack 11 on the slot162 b, so that the description thereof is omitted.

In the above embodiment an example of storing charging mode data in theEEPROM 2255 is described, but it is allowed to use not only an EEPROMbut also another storage medium as long as charging mode data can bestored, that is, it is allowed to write the data in a flash memory or aROM.

Moreover, according to the above described, it becomes possible toperform double way battery pack detection by a mechanical way of batterypack detection using the type of battery pack deciding switch 214 and anelectrical way battery pack detection according to the presence or theabsence of the charging mode data stored in the EEPROM 2255 of the SQbattery pack 1 where it is possible to prevent the conventional batterypack 11 from being broken due to an overcurrent even if a read out errordue to dust put onto the type of battery pack deciding concave portion131 and type of battery pack deciding switch 214, an intentionallygenerated error or a read out error in charging mode data due to anelectrical noise might occur.

Moreover, even if a case occurs in which the conventional battery pack11 and SQ battery pack 1 which are similar in shape are simultaneouslyused, it is possible to detect the type of a battery pack only byattaching the battery pack to the battery charger 151.

Therefore, it is possible to detect the type of a battery pack andcharge the battery pack in a proper charging mode and prevent thebattery pack from being broken due to an overcurrent.

An example is described above in which charging modes of a battery packare previously memorized or stored in the battery pack for changingbattery pack charging modes based on the stored information, but it isallowed to change battery pack charging modes in response to atemperature condition.

Accordingly, still another electrical configuration example (thirdconfiguration example) of the SQ battery pack 1 and battery charger 151when battery pack charging modes are changed in accordance with atemperature condition is described below with reference to FIG. 20. InFIG. 20, the SQ battery pack 1 is set to both the slots 162 a and 162 bwhere the both configurations thereof are the same.

The battery cell 3251 of the SQ battery pack 1 is a cell for storing thepower supplied from the battery charger 151 by the input/outputterminals 112 and 113.

A microcomputer 3252 is constituted of a CPU, a RAM and a ROM and drivenby the power supplied through a reg 3253. The microcomputer 3252collects not only the charged state information of the battery cell 3251but also various information in the SQ battery pack 1, controls acommunication circuit 3254, and supplies the information to the batterycharger 151 through the communication terminal 114. A thermistor 3252 iscontrolled by the microcomputer 3252 to measure and output the ambienttemperature TB of the SQ battery pack 1.

The conventional battery pack 11 has the same configuration as the SQbattery pack 1 but it is different from the SQ battery pack 1 incharacteristic of the battery 3251 and therefore, the battery pack 11cannot be charged at a large current compared to the case of the SQbattery pack 1.

Next, an electrical configuration example (third configuration example)of the battery charger 151 is described below.

The microcomputer of the battery charger 151 is constituted of a CPU, aRAM and a ROM to execute various processings of the battery charger 151and makes the displaying portion 168 display various information. Acommunication circuit 3272 is controlled by a microcomputer 3271 tocommunicate with either of SQ battery packs la or 1 b attached to theslot 162 a or 162 b by means of a communication switching unit 3273.

A charging changeover switch 3274 is controlled by the microcomputer3271 to change from a currently resting terminal 3274 a to a terminal3274 b or 3274 c corresponding to either of the slots 162 a and 162 b tobe charged when charging is started.

A charging mode changeover switch 3275 is controlled by themicrocomputer 3271 to change the current mode to a charging modecorresponding to on state or off state of the type of battery packdeciding switch 214. That is, the charging changeover switch 3275 ischanged from a currently resting terminal 3275 a to a terminal 3275 cconnected to a quick charging mode power source 3277 in case of thebattery pack 11 and to a terminal 3275 b connected to a superquickcharging mode power source 3276 in case of the SQ battery pack 1 undercharging in accordance with the type of a battery pack attached to theslot 162. Moreover, when the battery pack ambient temperature TBmeasured by the thermistor 3255 of the SQ battery pack 1 is not kept ina set temperature range, the charging mode changeover switch 3275 ischanged to a small current charging mode power source 3278. The smallcurrent charging mode power source 3278 is a power source requiring asmall charging current compared to the quick charging mode power source3277 and superquick charging mode power source 3276. A propertemperature range is set to the SQ battery pack 1 and battery pack 11.Therefore, when the SQ battery pack 1 and battery pack 11 are charged ina range other than the proper temperature range, they cause the samephenomenon as the case of an overcurrent. Therefore, the small currentcharging mode power source 3278 is a power source for performingcharging by using a small charging current value in order to avoid theabove phenomenon. Moreover, when the charging mode changeover switch3275 is changed to a terminal 3275 e, an AC power source 3280 convertsthe power supplied from a not illustrated external input terminal intoDC power and supplies the DC power to the SQ battery pack 1.

A thermistor 3279 is controlled by the microcomputer 3271 to measure theambient temperature of the battery charger 151 and output the measuredtemperature to the microcomputer 3271.

Then, the charging control processing when attaching the SQ battery pack1 to the slot 162 a of the battery charger 151 and charging the SQbattery pack 1 is described below with reference to the flowchart shownin FIG. 21.

In a step S71, the microcomputer 3271 controls the thermistor 3279 andobtains the battery charger ambient temperature TC to judge whether ornot the temperature TC is lower than the upper limit temperature TCU ofa battery charger ambient temperature (the upper limit temperature TCUof a battery charger ambient temperature is set to, for example, 65° C).For example, when it is judged that the battery charger ambienttemperature TC is lower than its upper limit temperature TCU, themicrocomputer 3271, in a step S72, controls the communication circuit3272, requests the battery pack ambient temperature TB to thecommunication circuit 3254 a of the SQ battery pack 1 a attached to theslot 162 a, obtains the temperature TB, and judges whether or not thetemperature TB is kept in the range between the upper limit temperatureTBU (upper limit temperature TBU is set to, for example, 65° C.) and thelower limit temperature TBL (lower limit temperature TBL is set to, forexample, 0° C.).

The processing is described below with reference to the flowchart inFIG. 22, in which the SQ battery pack la receives a request for thebattery pack ambient temperature TB from the microcomputer 3271 of thebattery charger 151 and transmits the ambient temperature TB.

In a step S101, a microcomputer 3252 a judges whether not the requestfor the battery pack ambient temperature TB is received from the batterycharger 151 and when the microcomputer 3252 a judges that the batterypack ambient temperature TB is requested, for example, in accordancewith the processing in the step S72 in the flowchart in FIG. 21, itreads the battery pack ambient temperature TB measured by a thermistor3255 a in a step S102.

In a step S103, the microcomputer 3252 controls a communication circuit354, transmits the read out battery pack ambient temperature TB to thebattery charger 151, and the processing returns to step S101 andsubsequent processings are repeated.

Hereinafter the processing for the SQ battery pack 1 to transmit thebattery pack ambient temperature TB is the same, so that the descriptionof that processing is omitted.

Back to the flowchart in FIG. 21 the explanation thereof will be doneagain.

When it is judged in the step S72 that the battery pack ambienttemperature TB is kept in the range between the upper limit temperatureTBU and the lower limit temperature TBL, the microcomputer 3271 controlsthe charging mode changeover switch 3275 to change from the currentlyresting terminal 3275 a to the terminal 3275 b.

In a step S74, the microcomputer 3271 judges whether or not the chargingon/off switch 213 is turned on. When it is judged that the switch 213 isturned on, the processing advances to a step S75.

In the step S75, it is judged whether the charging changeover switch3274 is turned on, that is, the charging changeover switch 3274 ischanged to the terminal 3274 b in order to supply power to the slot 162a. For example, in case of the first processing, that is, when thecharging changeover switch 3274 is connected to the currently restingterminal 3274 a, it is judged that the charging changeover switch 3274is not turned on and in a step S76, the microcomputer 3271 controls thecharging changeover switch 3274 and connects the switch 3274 to theterminal 3274 b to turn on the switch 3274.

In a step S77, the microcomputer 3271 controls the thermistor 3279,obtains the battery charger ambient temperature TC and judges whether ornot the temperature TC is lower than its upper limit temperature TCU andwhen the microcomputer judges that the temperature TC is lower than theupper limit temperature TCU, the processing advances to a step S78.

In the step S78, the microcomputer 3271 controls the communicationcircuit 3272, obtains the battery pack ambient temperature TB, andjudges whether or not the battery pack ambient temperature TB is kept inthe range between the upper limit temperature TBU and lower limittemperature TBL. When the microcomputer judges that the temperature TBis kept in the range, the processing advances to a step S79.

In the step S79, the microcomputer 3271 communicates with themicrocomputer 3252 a through the communication circuit 3272, thecommunication switching unit 3273 and the communication terminals 204and 114, and judges whether or not charging is completed. When themicrocomputer 3271 judges that charging is completed, in a step S82 itchanges the charging mode changeover switch 3275 to the terminal 3275 aand turns off the terminal 3275 a (pause) and moreover, changes thecharging changeover switch 3274 to the terminal 3274 a to completecharging.

When the battery charger ambient temperature TC is not lower than itsupper limit temperature TCU in the step S71, the microcomputer 3271controls the displaying portion 168 in a step S81, makes its chargingtrouble displaying portion 181 display that a “charging trouble” occurs,and subsequent processings are repeated. Accordingly, in this case, themicrocomputer 3271 stops charging in a step S11.

In the step S72, when it is judged that the battery pack ambienttemperature TB is not kept in the range between its upper limittemperature TBU and lower limit temperature TBL, the microcomputer 3271judges whether or not the battery pack ambient temperature TB is lowerthan its lower limit temperature TBL in a step S82.

When it is judged in the step S82 that the battery pack ambienttemperature TB is lower than its lower limit temperature TBL, themicrocomputer 3271 controls, in the step S83, the displaying portion 168such that the latter displays “Lo” corresponding to Lower as shown inFIG. 23 and displays that charging is currently performed in a smallcurrent charging mode based on the temperature TB which is lower thanthe proper temperature range.

In a step S85, the microcomputer 3271 controls the charging modechangeover switch 3275 to select the terminal 3275 c and change to thesmall current charging mode power source 3278, and then subsequentprocessings repeat.

When it is judged in the step S82 that the battery pack ambienttemperature TB is not lower than its lower limit temperature TBL, thatis, when it is judged that the battery pack ambient temperature TB isequal to or higher than its lower limit temperature TBU, themicrocomputer 3271 controls, in a step S84, the displaying portion 168such that the latter displays “Hi” corresponding to Higher as shown inFIG. 24 and displays that charging currently performed is in a smallcurrent charging mode based on the temperature TB which is higher thanthe proper temperature range.

When it is judged in a step S74 that the charging on/off switch 213 isnot turned on, processings in the steps S75 to S79 are skipped and theprocessing advances to the step S80 and charging is stopped.

When it is judged in the step S75 that the charging changeover switch3274 is turned on, the processing in the step S76 is skipped. In thiscase, it is regarded that charging is already currently performed andthe state of the charging changeover switch 3274 is maintained.

When it is judged in the step S77 that the battery charger ambienttemperature TC is not lower than its upper limit temperature TCU, theprocessing advances to the step S81.

When it is judged in the step S78 that the battery pack ambienttemperature TB is not kept in the range between its upper limittemperature TBU and lower limit temperature TBL, the microcomputer 3271judges in a step S86 whether or not the charging mode changeover switch3275 is currently connected to the small current charging mode powersource 3278, and when it is judged that the switch 3275 is connected tothe small current charging mode power source 3278, the processingreturns to the step S79, and when it is judged that the switch 3275 isnot connected to the power source 3278, the processing returns to thestep S82.

This is to say, the charging control processing in the small currentcharging mode is returned to the original processing, because there isno restriction of a battery pack ambient temperature therein.Accordingly, in the processing of the step S86 the fact that the switchis not connected to the small current charging mode power source 3278denotes that the switch is connected to the superquick charging modepower source 3276, so that the processing returns to the processingafter the step S82 and executes charging in the small current chargingmode.

In the above description, an example of changing to the small currentmode charging in accordance with a temperature condition is explained,but it is also allowed to set charging modes other than the above modeand in this case, it is possible to perform charging at a high speedwithout decreasing the charging capacity of a battery pack by changingcharging voltages and charging currents in various manners and bysetting the maximum voltage and maximum current suitable for atemperature condition as a power source.

As described above, by measuring the temperature around a battery packand a battery charger, it is possible to charge the battery pack in aproper charging mode corresponding to a temperature condition and henceit becomes possible to suppress the decrease of a charging capacity dueto an overcurrent which occurs when charging a battery pack in atemperature range which is out of the proper range.

A series of the above processings can be executed not only by hardwareor but also by software. To execute a series of processings by software,a program constituting the software is installed from a program storingmedium into a computer incorporated in exclusive hardware, a generalpurpose personal computer, for example, capable of executing variousfunctions by installing various programs and the like.

FIG. 25 shows a configuration of an embodiment of a personal computerwhen realizing the battery charger 151 by software. The CPU 4001 of thepersonal computer controls all operations of the personal computer.Further, when a command is input to the CPU 4001 by a user in an inputportion 4006 composed of a keyboard, a mouse and the like through a bus4004 and an input/output interface 4005, the CPU 4001 correspondinglyexecutes a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 4002. Alternately,the CPU 4001 executes a program which is installed in a storage portion4008 and loaded into a RAM (Random Access Memory) 4003 where the programis read from a magnetic disc 4011, an optical disc 4012, amagneto-optical disc 4013 or a semiconductor memory 4014 connected to adrive 4010. Additively the CPU 4001 controls a communication portion4009 and communicates with an external unit and executes exchanging ofdata.

As shown in FIG. 25, aside the computer, a program storing medium inwhich programs are recorded is not only constituted of package mediawhich is distributed to provide a program for users and in whichprograms are recorded such as the magnetic disc 4011 (including flexibledisc), optical disc 4012 (including CD ROM (Compact Disc Read OnlyMemory) and DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), magneto-optical disc 4013(including MD (Mini Disc) or semiconductor memory 4014 but alsoconstituted of the ROM 4002, a hard disc included in the storage portion4008 or the like which is provided for users by being built in thecomputer beforehand and in which programs are recorded.

In this description, steps of describing programs which are recorded ina program storing medium include not only processings to be performed intime sequence along the described sequence but also processings to beexecuted in parallel or individually instead of being performed in timesequence.

Further, in this description, a system denotes the whole systemconstituted of a plurality of units.

According to a first charging/discharging apparatus of the presentinvention, a relative position with a power supplying apparatus iscontrolled and a receivable power supplying mode is set such that areceiving terminal for receiving power from the power supplyingapparatus and a supplying terminal for the power supplying apparatus tosupply power are connected each other.

According to a first power supplying apparatus and method and a firstprogram of the present invention, presence or absence of a settingportion is detected, a power supplying mode is identified in accordancewith a detection result, and power is supplied to a charging/dischargingapparatus from a supplying terminal in the identified power supplyingmode.

According to a first power supplying system of the present invention, acharging/discharging apparatus controls a relative position with a powersupplying apparatus such that a receiving terminal for receiving powerfrom the power supplying apparatus and a supplying terminal for thepower supplying apparatus to supply power are connected each other, setsa receivable power supplying mode and the power supplying apparatusdetects presence or absence of a setting portion, identifies a powersupplying mode in accordance with a detection result, and supplies powerto the charging/discharging apparatus from the supplying terminal in theidentified power supplying mode.

According to a second charging/discharging apparatus and method and asecond program of the present invention, the information showing areceivable power supplying mode is stored and the stored informationshowing the power supplying mode is transmitted to a power supplyingapparatus.

According to a second power supplying apparatus and method and a thirdprogram of the present invention, the information showing a receivablepower supplying mode is received from a charging/discharging apparatusso as to supply power to the charging/discharging apparatuscorrespondingly to the received power supplying mode.

According to a second power supplying system and a power supplyingmethod of the second power supplying system, and a fourth program of thepresent invention, a charging/discharging apparatus stores theinformation showing a receivable power supplying mode, transmits thestored information showing the power supplying mode, and power supplyingapparatus receives the information showing the receivable powersupplying mode from the charging/discharging apparatus and suppliespower to the charging/discharging apparatus correspondingly to thereceived power supplying mode.

According to a third charging/discharging apparatus and method and afifth program of the present invention, the internal temperature of itsown is measured and the measured internal temperature data aretransmitted to a power supplying apparatus.

According to a third power supplying apparatus and method and a sixthprogram of the present invention, the internal temperature data of acharging/discharging apparatus are received from a charging/dischargingapparatus, the internal temperature of its own is measured, and powersupplying modes of the power to be supplied to the charging/dischargingapparatus are changed based on the received internal temperature data ofthe charging/discharging apparatus or measured temperature data of itsown.

According to a third power supplying system and a power supplying methodof the third power supplying system, and a seventh program of thepresent invention, a charging/discharging apparatus measures theinternal temperature of the charging/discharging apparatus, transmitsthe measured internal temperature data of the charging/dischargingapparatus to a power supplying apparatus, and the power supplyingapparatus receives the internal temperature data of thecharging/discharging apparatus transmitted from the charging/dischargingapparatus and changes power supplying modes of the power to be suppliedto the charging/discharging apparatus in accordance with the receivedinternal temperature data of the charging/discharging apparatus or themeasured internal temperature data of the power supplying apparatus.

As a result, it is possible to charge a charging/discharging apparatusin a proper power supplying mode based on the type or temperature of acharging/discharging apparatus in any case and prevent a chargingcapacity from deteriorating or damaging due to an overcurrent generatedwhen charging, the charging/discharging apparatus.

1-34. (canceled)
 35. A program storing medium wherein a computerreadable program for controlling a charging/discharging apparatus whichreceives power from a power supplying apparatus is stored, comprising: atemperature measurement controlling step for controlling an internaltemperature; and a transmission controlling step for controllingtransmission processing of said internal temperature data measured insaid temperature measurement controlling step to said power supplyingapparatus.
 36. A program for making a computer control acharging/discharging apparatus which receives power from a powersupplying apparatus wherein said program executes: a temperaturemeasurement controlling step for controlling measurement of an internaltemperature; and a transmission controlling step for controllingtransmission processing of said internal temperature data measured insaid temperature measurement controlling step to said power supplyingapparatus. 37-40. (canceled)
 41. A program storing medium wherein acomputer readable program for controlling a power supplying apparatuswhich supplies power to a charging/discharging apparatus is stored,comprising: a reception controlling step for controlling reception ofinternal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatustransmitted from said charging/discharging apparatus; a temperaturemeasurement controlling step for controlling measurement of an internaltemperature; and a power supplying mode change controlling step forcontrolling change of power supplying modes of the power to be suppliedto said charging/discharging apparatus based on the internal temperaturedata of said charging/discharging apparatus received through theprocessing in said reception controlling step or the temperature datameasured through the processing in said temperature measurementcontrolling step.
 42. A program for making a computer control a powersupplying apparatus for supplying power to a charging/dischargingapparatus wherein said program executes: a reception controlling stepfor controlling reception of internal temperature data of saidcharging/discharging apparatus transmitted from saidcharging/discharging apparatus; a temperature measurement controllingstep for controlling measurement of an internal temperature; and a powersupplying mode change controlling step for controlling change of powersupplying modes of the power to be supplied to said charging/dischargingapparatus based on the internal temperature data of saidcharging/discharging apparatus received through the processing in saidreception controlling step or the temperature data measured through theprocessing in said temperature measurement controlling step. 43-46.(canceled)
 47. A program storing medium wherein a computer readableprogram for controlling a power supplying system comprising acharging/discharging apparatus and a power supplying apparatus isstored, characterized in that the program for controlling saidcharging/discharging apparatus comprises: a charging/dischargingapparatus temperature measurement controlling step for controlling theinternal temperature measurement of said charging/discharging apparatus;and a transmission controlling step for controlling transmissionprocessing of said internal temperature data of saidcharging/discharging apparatus measured through the processing in saidcharging/discharging apparatus temperature measurement controlling stepto said power supplying apparatus; and the program for controlling saidpower supplying apparatus comprises: a reception controlling step forcontrolling reception of said internal temperature data of saidcharging/discharging apparatus transmitted from saidcharging/discharging apparatus; a power supplying apparatus temperaturemeasurement controlling step for controlling measurement of the internaltemperature of said power supplying apparatus; and a power supplyingmode change controlling step for controlling change of power supplyingmodes of the power to be supplied to said charging/discharging apparatusin accordance with said internal temperature data of saidcharging/discharging apparatus received through the processing in saidreception controlling step or said internal temperature data of saidpower supplying apparatus measured through the processing in said powersupplying apparatus temperature measurement controlling step.
 48. Aprogram for making a computer control a power supplying systemcomprising a charging/discharging apparatus and a power supplyingapparatus, program makes said computer which controls saidcharging/discharging apparatus execute steps of: a charging/dischargingapparatus temperature measurement controlling step for controllingmeasurement of an internal temperature of said charging/dischargingapparatus; and a transmission controlling step for controllingtransmission processing of the internal temperature data of saidcharging/discharging apparatus to said power supplying apparatus; andsaid program makes said computer which controls said power supplyingapparatus execute the steps of: a reception controlling step forcontrolling reception of said internal temperature data of saidcharging/discharging apparatus transmitted from saidcharging/discharging apparatus; a power supplying apparatus temperaturemeasurement controlling step for controlling measurement of the internaltemperature of said power supplying apparatus; and a power supplyingmode change controlling step for controlling change of power supplyingmodes of the power to be supplied to said charging/discharging apparatusbased on said internal temperature data of said charging/dischargingapparatus received through the processing in said reception controllingstep or said internal temperature data of said power supplying apparatusmeasured through the processing in said power supplying apparatustemperature measurement controlling step.